Statement of the Problem

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There is a need for Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) to be recognized as professionals and valued for the essential service that they bring into the community.  In addition to professional recognition, ECEs deserve to be fairly compensated for their work.  These ECEs are primarily women, and a large portion are women of color. “The industry as a whole has always stumbled with high labor turnover as the jobs offer low pay and high stress” (Ho, 2018).   Low wages for ECEs undermines their ability to provide for themselves and their families that rely on them.  By providing livable wages, vacation & sick leave, and retirement funding options we can show that the early education field can support a quality life. 

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The current structure of childcare in the United States, has ties to World War II and the Lanham Act of 1941.  The Lanham Act specifically provided resourcing for childcare and other resources that encouraged mothers to leave the home and enter the workforce.  Over time our childcare system has been divided along class lines.  These divisions have made it “difficult for parents to unite and lobby for improved services and increased public funding for childcare for all children” (Michel, 2011).   Currently there is a “shrinking pool of child care workers with employers still offering low pay while demand for high-quality child care programs” (Ho, 2018).  There are over 1 million people involved in providing care to young children.  According to the National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE), 97 percent of center-based early childhood teaching staff are women (NSECE, 2013).   

 

What Must Change

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1. ECEs need access to better education and to develop an understanding in the community that will honor and recognize their importance in the community.  There needs to be outreach into the community to garner support for ECEs.

 

2. Purpose and implement new policies that will create living wages and comprehensive benefits for ECEs.  Use media campaign to convey purpose and support for better living wages and benefits.

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Partners in the Process

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Potential partners that have similar goals in achieving livable wages and benefits for ECEs, are as follows: Child Care Aware, Human Rights Group, Equal Pay Today Organization, and Rise Up.  In addition to the local community, public school system and childcares in the area.

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Outcomes if Proposed Solutions are Implemented

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1. Relationships with the community and policy makers would improve.  Together we could be working towards change and improvement of ECEs. 

2. ECEs would have the opportunity to seek more education and improve themselves professionally, in addition to earning better wages and comprehensive benefits.

 

References

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Ho, S. (2018). 'Broken' Economics for Preschool Workers, Child Care Sector. US News And World Report. Retrieved from https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2018-09-08/broken-economics-for-preschool-workers-child-care-sector

 

Michel, S. (2011). The history of child care in the U.S. Social Welfare History Project. Retrieved from http://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/programs/child-care-the-american-history/ (Links to an external site.)

 

Number and Characteristics of Early Care and Education (ECE) Teachers and Caregivers: Initial Findings from the National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE). October 2013. Number and Characteristics of Early Care and Education (ECE) Teachers and Caregivers: Initial Findings from the National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE) (hhs.gov)